Multi-section lift-lock devices for closing open-top spaces such as shipholds, sheds, vehicles, etc., by means of panels movable on runways



May 1963 H. KUMMERMAN ETAL' 3,090,342

MULTI-SECTION LIFT-LOCK DEVICES FOR CLOSING OPEN-TORSPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, SHEDS, VEHICLES, ETC BY MEANS OF PANELS MOVABLE 0N RUNWAYS" Filed Jan. 50, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HE NR/ IKUMMERMA N & JAN \/L EGEF? By I ATTOZNEYS May 1, 1963 H. KUMMERMAN ET AL 3,090,

MULTI-SECTION LIFT-LOCK DEVICES FOR CLOSING OPEN-TOP SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, swans, VEHICLES, ETC. BY MEANS OF PANELS MOVABLE ON RUNWAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 /NVENTOR5 KUMMERMAN JAN VLIEGER IENF?! By 721/ ZtTo NE VS May 1963 H. KUMMERMAN ET AL 3,090,342

MULTI-SECTION LIFT-LOCK DEVICES FOR CLOSING OPEN-TOP SPACES SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, SHEDS, VEHICLES, ETC. BY MEANS OF PANELS MOVABLE ON RUNWAYS Filed Jan. 50, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 WOR EYS 3,090,342 TOP SPACES BY May 1963 H. KUMMERMAN ET AL MULTI-SECTION LIFT-LOCK DEVICES FOR CLOSING OPEN- SUCH AS SHIPHOLDS, SHEDS, VEHICLES, ETC.

MEANS OF PANELS MOVABLE ON RUNWAYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 30, 1961 INVENTOFQS HENFPI KUMMERMAN & JAN VLIEGER BY 7 W mu ATTOiIEYS States sterdam, Netherlands, assignors, signments, to International MacGregor Organization (I.M.G.O.), Monte Carlo, a corporation of the principality of Monaco Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 85,632 Claims priority, application France Mar. 2, 1960 20 Claims. (Cl. 114-202) The present invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to multi-section lift-lock devices for closing fixed or movable open-top spaces such as hatchways of shipholds, sheds, vehicles, etc., by means of movable closing panels.

Some forms of embodiments of such devices are described in a copending patent application Serial No. 73,694, filed on December 5, 1960 and comprise runways or guideways provided along the longitudinal edges of said space or aperture to be closed, for example on the hatch-coamings on board a ship, a vertical projecting ridge means on the top-face of each of said edges of hatchcoamings and parallel to the edges of said hatch or aperture, movable multi-section panels or hatch-covers adapted to cover and to uncover said aperture or hatchway by sliding or rolling on said runways intended for supporting and guiding said panels during their setting and removing motions from and to a stowing place provided at one or either end of said hatch or aperture, resilient sealing gasket means secured along the edges of said panels for co-operating by contact with said ridges when they are seated thereon in the tightly closed position of said panels in order to form sealing joints, collapsible bearing or supporting members forming retractable port-ions of said runways and supporting said panels in the covering raised position, actuating means for controlling separately or simultaneously said bearing members to co-operate with said closing panels for lowering or lift-ing same to cause them to bear on or be released from their sealing joints or ridges when they are in their closed position, fastening or locking means provided either on said bearing members or on their associated actuating means and controlled thereby to hold or retain said panels tightly on their seat.

against motion in this closed lowered position.

Panel setting or removing can be controlled simultaneously or separately. The control means to be used in this case are conventional and well known in the field.

It is the essential object of the present invention to provide a lift-lock device of the kind set forth hereinabove, which is remarkable notably, according to a first form of embodiment. in that each of said bearing members is actuated by a linkage or like system whereby they can be raised or lowered at will, and locked in their lower posi tion in the opening formed in the guideway provided for the panel supporting rollers, these links being at the same time caused to exert a downward pressure on said panels.

According to another feature of this invention, the aforesaid linkage system comprises at least one link having one end pivoted at a point underlying the aforesaid guideway, the other end of said link while pivoting, acting upon said bearing member.

According to a further feature of this invention, said link has its free end pivoted on a vertically movable in termediate member having also pivoted thereon a rod or another link rigid with the aforesaid bearing member.

According to another feature of this invention the two pivot axes provided on said intermediate member are atent ice either merged into each other or located in close proximity of each other.

According to another feature of this invention, a control member, such as a crank-handle acting upon the pivot pin of said lower link, may be provided for actuating said bearing members either simultaneously or separately.

It is another object of this invention to provide an arrangement of the type set forth hereinabove wherein the aforesaid bearing member comprises a platform-shaped portion adapted, in the raised position of this member, to occupy a horizontal position and to fill in the opening formed in the guideway, in flush relationship with the top face thereof.

According to a second form of embodiment of this invention, in case the trackway provided for example on the hatch-coaming is formed with orifices permitting the passage of the supporting rollers or like members,

of the panels, and comprises collapsible means such as a platform adapted to fill up said orifices and secured on a link, the opposite end of this link is pivoted on a bar, rod or the like, adapted to perform only a substantially horizontal motion of translation.

According to another feature of this second embodiment of the invention, the size of the aforesaid orifice is such that when the hatchway or like aperture is open the platform-like element can be concealed almost completely beneath the hatch-coaming top surface.

The simplification resulting from this embodiment will be readily apparent. In fact, according to said first form of embodiment, a control bar or rod is used which has necessarily to perform a rectilinear movement. To obtain this movement, a double linkage system is compulsory. With the second form of embodiment a single linkage system is sufiicient for ensuring the same operation.

This invention is also concerned with a third form of embodiment of the device belonging to the kind set forth hereinabove, which is remarkable notably in that portions of the runway for the supporting rollers or the like, or the complete runway, are vertically movable, so that the panels can be lowered and the sealing gaskets seated.

According to another feature of the third embodiment of this invention, the movable portions of the runway, or the runway itself, have a vertical stroke slightly greater than that required for lowering the panels from their rolling position to the position in which the sealing gaskets are seated.

According to a further feature of this third embodiment, the upward and downward movement of the aforesaid runway is obtained through a pin-and-slot means or the like.

According to another feature characterizing this third embodiment, the runway comprises at its upper portion claws, projections or the like which bear on the rollers or the like when the latter are in their panel-closing position. I

The advantages deriving from the last form of embodiment defined hereinabove will be readily appreciated. Under many circumstances it happens that it is not pos sible or convenient to use orifices formed in the hatchcoaming. The device of this invention provides in this case an extremely practical and simple solution without resorting to any means that are costly or difiicult to operate.

Other features of the present invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example only wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a first form of embodiment of a device constructed according to the teachings of this invention and illustrated in a posi- 3 tion corresponding to the open condition of the space to be closed;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are similar views showing the two successive positions of said embodiment of this invention during the movement accomplished thereby for closing the hatch of a shiphold or like open-top space;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing the arrangement in the position corresponding to the closing of the shiphold or like space;

FIGURE 5 shows the same device in side elevational view;

FIGURE 5a is a modified detail view of FIGURE 5; FIGURE 5b is another modified detail view of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the hatch of a shiphold closed by hatch-covers or panels equipped with said embodiment of this invention; and

FIGURE 7 shows diagrammatically a second form of embodiment of the device of this invention, wherein a single linkage system is used.

According to a first form of embodiment of the present invention applied to cover panels and hatches or like openings the construction of which is of the character described hereinabove, a hatch-cover (not shown) is adapted to roll on the hatch-coaming surrounding the hatchway. Either on the hatch-coaming proper, or on a built-up member provided laterally thereto, the device described hereafter is provided.v

It may be assumed that this device is contiguous to the hatch-coaming designated diagrammatically by the reference numeral 200. In this hatch-coarning an orifice 201 is formed through which a bearing element 202 extends. This element 202 may be of strap-like configuration as in the example illustrated, and provided with a recess for example of circular form as shown at 203, adapted to engage a pin, stud or roller such as 204 pertaining to the panel of which it is desired to control the opening or closing movements. At its lower portion the member or element 202 is formed with a platform-like portion 204 bis adapted to be aligned and to come flush with the upper surface of the hatch-coaming 200.

This element 202 has a depending extension in the form of a rod 205 pivoted at 206 on a bar, or on bar-like sections 207. Pivoted' at 208 on this bar 207 is a link 209* having its opposite end pivoted on a fixed point.

The operation of the device described hereinabove is extremely simple. When the panels are in their open position and must therefore be able to roll freely along the edges of the hatchway, it is desirable that the stud or roller 204 be raised orat'least able to slide along the guideway provided to this end on the hatch-coaming 200'. By the way, it may be noted that the panels may be carried by the same studs 204 since their sliding movements on the guideway can be promoted by lining the latter with synthetic or other material 200'.

' When the bar 207 is actuated in the direction of the arrow F1, both pivot pins 206 and 208 move in the same direction. Of course, co-operating surfaces such as 211 and 212 may be formed on the links 205, 209, and if desired these surfaces may be lined with adequate friction material as shown in FIGURE 5,. or with toothed gears as shownin FIGURE 55, likely to promote the transmission of the angular motion from link 209 to link 205.

Thedisplacement of bar 207 in the direction of the arrow F1 causes a pivoting movement of link 209 in the direction of the arrow F2 and also a pivoting movement of the link 205 in the direction of the arrow F3. From the foregoing it will be readily seen that the device will successively pass through the positions shown 'in FIG- URES 2 and 3 and finally to the position shown in FIG- URE 4 wherein the recess 203 engages the stud or roller 204. Meanwhile, due to the downward motion. of the platform 204 bis, the stud or roller 204 itself has been lowered so as to exert the desired pressure on the panel and thereby upon the sealing joints of the hatch.

'FIGURE 4 shows that if the movement of bar 207 were stopped, for example by locking it, the stud 204 pertaining to the hatch-cover concerned would be retained by the bearing element 202 and also by the strap: 203 thereof. Thus, it is possible, by a single operation, to simultaneously lower the hatch cover sections so as to seat them on their sealing joints, and lock them in position.

Besides, it may be noted that if the bearing element 202 is formed with a suitable contour, this element in the closed position, that is, the position shown in FIG- URE 4 will be prevented from moving away from its position when it is simply urged upwards. In fact, it will be seen that the sides of the bearing element 202 abut against the edges of the aperture 201.

In the form of embodiment of this example there is shown the specific case of a pair of links pivoted at two separate points 206 and 208, but it will be readily understood that, if desired, these two pivot points may be merged into one as shown in FIGURE 5a. Similarly, the upper link 205 may be partly dispensed with, for it is only sufficient that the movement of link 209 allows the upward and downward motion of the bearing element by causing same to accomplish a certain rotation and to hold same against motion when it bears on the stud 204. As previously indicated, a crank handle 210a acting upon the lower pivot 210 of link 209 may be provided for operating the system as shown in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 6 there is shown a general view of a series of hatch-cover sections or panels 213, 214, 215 each provided with said bearing device and controlled by a common bar.

In the first form of embodiment illustrated stationary pivots 206, 208 and 210 are shown. This construction is convenient provided that when mounting the assembly the positions of these pivots be so determined that the strap 203 fits exactly on the stud or roller 204.

If an assembly comprising a plurality of devices of this character were to be controlled simultaneously by means of the bar 207, a lack of harmony might be observed as a consequence of an unaccurate adjustment of the separate devices. This inconvenience is always possible in an arrangement of this type but can be overcome by either incorporating a resilient member between each pair of adjacent devices, or mounting the various pivots or only some of them with the assistance of blocks of resilient material and simultaneously enlarging the orifices engaged by the pivot pins in the metal members.

Thus, for example, a rubber pad or like block '16 of resilient and wear-resisting material may be interposed in the hollow channel space of rod 207 and in conjunction therewith the orifices 206a and 208a (shown in dotted'lines) receiving the pivot pins 206 and 208 respectively may be formed with a diameter or dimensions greater than those of the pivot pins.

In the second form of embodiment illustrated in FIG- URE 7, and applied to cover panels and hatches or like openings the construction of which is of the character described hereinabove the reference numeral 300 designates the runway provided for guiding the rollers (not shown) usually carried by the panels. Formed in the hatch-coaming is an orifice 301 through which extends a link 302 carrying at its upper end a platform 303 adapted to align itself with the hatch-coaming 300. A projection 304 extends above the platform 303 and is adapted, as set forth in the first form of embodiment, to lock and hold against movement a roller or a pivot pin 305 carried by the panel.

At its opposite end the link 302 is pivoted at 306 on a bar or'rod 307 movable only in a substantially horizontal direction and reciprocable as shown by the arrows iF-l, F2.

The control of the upper portion of link 302 as well as the dimensions of aperture 301 are such that three different positions are obtainable.

The first position of the link 302 is shown in solid lines and corresponds to the case in which the platform 303 is in alignment with the hatch-coaming 300. Thus, the panels can roll freely and occupy either a closed position or an open position.

In the position shown in dotted lines at 302' the link is inclined and it will be seen that the claw-forming member '304 engages the pivot pin 305 so as to hold it against movement.

In a third position shown in dots-and-dashes at 302" the link is concealed or retracted nearly completely when the hatchway is fully open and in case it is desired to avoid any risk of accidental engagement for example with a bucket. To this end, member 304 is topped by a finger-like projection 304a in extension of link 302, adapted to engage one end edge of orifice 301 as shown at 304a in the position 30 of said link.

It is understood, with regard to both forms of embodiment referred to hereinabove, that said movable panels may be provided with roller means independent of said stud pins cooperating with said bearing members, said rollers being disposed internally of said panels and engaging openings adapted to be stopped which are provided in said runways.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand.

Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A removable fluid-tight closure arrangement for a substantially horizontal rectangular opening in travelling and stationary enclosed spaces such as a hatchway in a ship deck, a roof aperture in open top vehicles and buildings, comprising at lea-st one movable cover panel made of a plurality of adjoining separate panel sections forming a row movable in a same direction and laterally fitted with pairs of displacement means, a pair of continuous substantially horizontal runways provided along to opposite edges of said opening for supporting and guiding said panel sections which bear thereupon with said displacement means whereby they are displaceable thereover to cover and uncover said opening, a releasable panel closing and dogging device associated with each of said runways, adapted on the one hand to lower said panel sections in their covering position to seat them onto the edges of said opening in biased sealing engagement therewith and to automatically hold them against motion by pulling them downwards thereby effecting a fluid-tight joint and on the other hand to raise said panel sections away from said edges to break said sealing arrangement preparatory to removing said panel sections, said device comprising a plurality of orifices formed in said runway at the location of said displacement means respec tively in the covering position of said panel sections to allow said displacement means to descend through said orifices, a plurality of bearing means associated with said orifices respectively, engageable by said displacement means and movable substantially upwards and downwards by tilting through said orifices while being guided by the edges thereof, and consisting each one of a substantially straight upstanding lever formed atits upper end on the one hand with a platform constituting a downward retractable portion of said runway and filling out in its lifted horizontal position one of said orifices in flush relationship with said runway to support on a level therewith a corresponding one of said displacement means, and on the other hand with an integral locking member movable through said orifice into locking and unlocking positions, laterally projecting catch means provided on said panel sections and engaged by said locking members in the lowered position of said panel sections, mechanical actuating means operatively connected to said levers for carrying and moving same, said levers being pivoted thereto by their lower ends for swinging in a vertical plane parallel to said runway, and operating means to drive and to control said actuating means.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said catch means are cylindrical in shape and each of said locking members is made of at least one extension 'of said lever beyond and above said platform and substantially off-set outwards with respect thereto and formed at its upper portion with a horizontally protruding clamping lug jutting out over said platform and adapted to engage said catch means from above, when said lever is depressed.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said displacement means are constituted by rolling wheel means and said catch means are coaxial elements of said wheel means.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said displacement means are constituted by sliding skids and said catch means are pin-like elements integral with said iSkldS.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said runways are lined with a layer of synthetic material adapted to promoteslippage.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprise for each of said levers with their bearing means a movable link pivotally securedat its lower end to a fulcrum underlying said runway and an intermediate member interconnecting said lever and said link which are pivoted thereto respectively, the rt'ormer by its lower end and the latter by its upper end, for swinging motion relative to said intermediate memberabout horizontal axes located in a same vertical plane, said fulcrums being substantially horizontally aligned and each one so located that said link makes with said lever in the utmost upstanding position thereof an angle at most iequal to measured inthe direction of tilting of said ever.

7. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the horizontal pivot axis of said lever, the horizontal axis of said catch means and the line of contact of said clamping lug extension of said lever with said catch means are always situated in a common plane passing substantially through the centerline of said lever.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein said clamping lug extension of said lever is formed at its lower face with a downward facing concave round recess, the radius of curvature of which is at lea-st equal to that of said catch means and the axis of revolution of which is substantially horizontal and located in said common plane, said lug-carrying extension having such a contour as to allow its guidance in abutting engagement with the end edges of one of said orifices to maintain the coplanar relationship between said axes and its subsequent jamming therein at the end of the locking movement.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the lateral edges of said extension are substantially parallel to said common plane and their upper portions are bevelled by canting to allow adequate engagement between said clamping lug and said catch means at the end of the downward stroke and tilting of said lever.

10. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the pivot axes on said intermediate member of each of said levers and of the upper end of the corresponding aforesaid link -are substantially merged into one another.

11. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the pivot axes on said intermediate member of each of said levers and of the upper end of the corresponding aforesaid link are so located relative to each other that the former overlies the latter, said lever and said link being operatively coupled to each other through contacting friction surfaces integral with said lever and link respectively.

12. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the pivot axes on said intermediate member of each of said levers and of the upper end of the corresponding aforesaid link are so located relative to each other thatthe former overlies the latter, said lever and said link being operatively coupled to each other through meshing gears integral with said lever and link respectively.

13. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said actuating means comprise at least one crank handle acting upon the lower pivot of one of said links.

14. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the pivots of said levers and of said links are so mounted. as to permit a slight shift thereof relative to said intermediate member to allow a proper simultaneous engagement of said clamping lugs on said catch means. 15. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein said pivots are trunnioned in a block of resiliently deformable and wear-resisting material forming a bearing fitted on said intermediate member, the diameters'of the apertures provided in said levers and in said links for mounting said pivots being slightly greater than those of said pivots.

16. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein all of said intermediate members are constituted by a unitary reciprocable substantially horizontal bar extending side wise along and beneath said runway so as to operatively interconnect said bearing means for moving same in unison, said links remaining parallel to each other, as well as said levers.

17. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical actuating means includes intermediate mem- \bers and wherein all of said intermediate mem-bersare constituted by a unitary reciprocable substantially horizontal bar extending sidewise along and beneath said runway so as to operatively interconnect said bearing means for moving same in unison, said links remaining parallel to each other, as well as said levers.

=18. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means are constituted by a unitary reciprocable substantially horizontal bar extending sidewise along and beneath said runway so as to pivotally interconnect said levers at their lower ends for moving same in unison, said bar being adapted to only accomplish a substantially horizontal motion of translation parallel to itself.

a 19. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said orifices have such a size and said levers have such a contour cooperating with the end edges of said orifices that said levers are able to be almost completely retracted below the top surface level of said runways when said opening is fully open.

20. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein each said locking member is constituted by a flat strip extend ing parallel to said platform and topped by a finger-like projection in extension of said lever, said projection being adapted to engage one end edge of said orifice when said lever is in its utmost retracted position.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,747,064 Hock L. Sept. 6, 1955 2,863,414 Hoitt et al Dec. 9, 1958 2,945,467 Wigeland July .19, 1960 2,965,062 Stransky Dec. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 370,809 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1932 78,488 Netherlands June 12, 1950 

1. A REMOVABLE FLUID-TIGHT CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RECTANGULAR OPENING IN TRAVELLING AND STATIONARY ENCLOSED SPACES SUGH AS A HATCHWAY IN A SHIP DECK, A ROOF APERTURE IN OPEN TOP VEHICLES AND BUILDINGS, COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE COVER PANEL MADE OF A PLURALITY OF ADJOINING SEPARATE PANEL SECTIONS FORMING A ROW MOVABLE IN A SAME DIRECTION AND LATERALLY FITTED WITH PAIRS OF DISPLACEMENT MEANS, A PAIR OF CONTINUOUS SUBTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RUNWAYS PROVIDED ALONG TO OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID OPENINGS FOR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING SAID PANEL SECTIONS WHICH BEAR THEREUPON WITH SAID DISPLACEMENT MEANS WHEREBY TGEY AR EDISPLACEABLE THEREOVER TO COVER AND UNCOVER SAID OPENING, A RELEASABLE PANEL CLOSING AND DOGGING DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID RUNAWAYS, ADAPTED ON THE OINE HAND TO LOWER SAID PANELA SECTIONS IN THEIR COVERING POSITION TO SEAM THEN ONTO THE EDGES OF SAID OPENING IN BIASED SEALING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH AND TO AUTOMATICALLY HOLD THEM AGAINST MOTION BY PULLING THEM DOWNWARDS THEREBY EFFECTING A FLUID-TIGHT JOINT AND ON THE OTHER HAND TO RAISE SAID PANEL SECTIONS AWAY FROM SAID EDGES TO BREAK SAID SEALING ARRANGEMENT PREPARATORY TO REMOVING SAID PANEL SECTIONS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ORIFICES FORMED IN SAID RUNWAY AT THE LOCATION OF SAID DISPLACEMENT MEANS RESPECTIVELY IN THE COVERING POSITION OF SAID PANEL SECTIONS TO ALLOW SAID DISPLACEMENT MEANS TO DESCEND THROUGH SAID ORIFICES, A PLURALITY OF BEARING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH 